Conforming - and mobs

Moderators: Vis Bellica, Laffe

Post Reply
LancasterMatt
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:50 pm

Conforming - and mobs

Post by LancasterMatt »

The rules state 2 situations where the defender chooses who conforms when close combat occurs. However....

1. What happens when a Formation or Mob contact a Group?

2. What happens when a Formation contacts a Group on its own that happens to be part of a scattered Mob?
User avatar
Quackstheking
Posts: 389
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:07 am
Location: Cheshunt, Herts

Re: Conforming - and mobs

Post by Quackstheking »

The defender only chooses who conforms to who, when it is one group attacking one group.

1. This is covered by 7.2.5 on page 55. Looking at the picture where X&Y are attacking Group A, they can chose one of 3 options on the combat (i) both X&Y can contact A and both fight (ii) X can contact with Y in Support or (iii) Y can contact with X in support.

2. One of the weaknesses of a mob is that after an uncontrolled advance the mob, whilst still a mob being able to be activated by one leader, it can become separated.

In this situation an attacking Formation can pick on the low hanging fruit and attack as detailed in 1 above. However the separated group is still part of the mob, so when the Leader controlling the mob is activated, the rest of the mob can pile in!

Hope this helps!

Don
User avatar
Quackstheking
Posts: 389
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:07 am
Location: Cheshunt, Herts

Re: Conforming - and mobs

Post by Quackstheking »

The rules are very subtle and nuanced. To a degree this is due to the completely different fighting styles of the disciplined Romans and the raw aggressiveness of the barbarians. The skill is maximising the USP of your force while minimising the USP of your foe!

A bit like draughts it can be a simple game to play/learn but will take ages to master!

Glad you’re enjoying it - as Rich has said elsewhere, it’s probably his best set of rules and set against competition from CoC, SP, WaT, IABSM etc. that is some accolade.

Feel free to ask questions, there are some very knowledgable players who will be only too happy to help.

As has been said many a time - there are no stupid questions!

Don
Last edited by Quackstheking on Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
TimR
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:23 am

Re: Conforming - and mobs

Post by TimR »

As a follow up to this. When a formation/ mob hits a group (either on it’s own or the end of a formation / mob) can they both fight or does one fight with support?
Thanks
Tim
User avatar
Quackstheking
Posts: 389
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 11:07 am
Location: Cheshunt, Herts

Re: Conforming - and mobs

Post by Quackstheking »

If they both hit, then they both fight and add all their dice together against the defenders dice.

The are a few reasons they may chose not to do this depending on the different quality of the attacking groups, their levels of shock/casualties or the potential to be attacked next etc.

Don
LancasterMatt
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:50 pm

Re: Conforming - and mobs

Post by LancasterMatt »

OK so if I understand the answer correctly:
when a formation hits a group that is on its own though still part of a Mob because it is within 9" of other groups the formation must conform.

As an additional related question:
Does conforming consist of just turning to face (Making it easier for 2 groups 2 fight against 1)?
or does it also involve sliding to the side to face just 1 group (forcing the 2nd group of the formation into support)?
Post Reply